1a.Objectives (from AD-416)
The objectives of the project are to (1) assemble a collection of natural accessions and 2,000 homozygous T-DNA lines; (2) conduct a detailed phenotypic characterization of the collection using a phenomic approach, and (3) begin detailed characterization of a select group of mutants and natural accessions.

1b.Approach (from AD-416)
This project builds upon a collection of insertional mutants (T-DNA lines) and natural accessions of Brachypodium that we have already assembled. We will use PCR to identify homozygous mutants lines from segregating populations. We will then use high-throughput, non-destructive phenotyping (phenomics) to characterize the population of insertional mutants and natural accessions. This analysis is expected to identify variation in biomass, growth rate, water use efficiency, nutrient use efficiency and other traits relevant to bioenergy crop development. Based on this data we will select a small subset of lines for more detailed characterization including molecular complementation analysis to determine if the T-DNA insertion is responsible for the observed phenotype. All phenomic data and homozygous mutant lines will be made freely available to the research community.

3.Progress Report

The goal of this project is to use high throughput, non-destructive phenotyping (phenomics) to characterize Brachypodium T-DNA mutants and inbred lines. During this year Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) examined the effect of several parameters of Brachypodium growth and selected growth conditions for the main phenomic studies. Albany researchers identified over 500 individuals homozygous for T-DNA insertions and sent 150 confirmed homozygous lines to CSIRO for phenomic analysis. The project was coordinated through monthly conference calls. In addition, the postdoc working on the project visited CSIRO and several CSIRO personnel visited Albany after attending a conference in San Diego. Progress is on target with project milestones.